Automatic crankcase oil filler



April 6, 1943; A. 0. JAMES AUTOMATIC CRANK CASE OIL FILLER Filed May 31, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ewf mm a 5 M VI N m If T w a April 6, 1943.

A. 0, JAMES AUTOMATIC CRANK CASE OIL FILLER Filed May 31, 1940.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 6, 1943 UITED AUTOMATIC citANKcAsE OIL FILLER? Alfred 0, James, Detroit, Mich. Application May, 31, 1940, sria1ivojsa0s'7- V 1 claim; (01.184-103) v The present invention relates to a new and improved device for automatic'gauging of a-quantity of oil in the crank case and means for automatically supplying oil from a supply tank to the oil pump of an engine having an oil pump system or force feed when the oil becomes exhausted to a predetermined low level in the crank case.

It is known that the latest type of automobile engines and the like are equipped with an oil pump system, and are lubricated by means of an oil pump controlled by the cam shaft with oil tub lines connected inside the motor from the oil pumpto parts such as main bearings, piston rods, 'caps, and other movable parts. s

The coil in this type-of motor islocated beneath the crankshaft and the oil can not be splashed .upon the crankshaft, pistonrods, or partsby the'piston rod caps; The only means by which the oil can be supplied to such partsrin .thistype of engine is by means of the oil pump drawing'oil from the crank case by'means of a tube extended from the drawing sideof the oil pump into the oil within the crank case. The operationpf-the oil pump gears-creates an oil pressure; in the oil tube lines and is known as, foil pump system or force feedf ;It isthe-primaryobject of thisinventionto xprovidaanoil supply tank having direct commu i a n with h en ines. l p p o h the;use eithecqntrol box or fortallowing the oi1 pu mp;to draw fresh oil immediately from the supply tank when theoil in the crank case becomes suddenly exhausted or consumed by the engines use, It is to be carefully noticed that theoilpump will supply the revolving crankshaft, piston rods and caps before the crank case is're filled. V i c A :furtherobject of the invention is to keep an ample supply 30f oil in the reservoir and a control unit where an adjustment can be made to control the refilling point of the crank case and means for allowing the engines oil pump to replenish the crankcase while themotor is in motion, or while av l n n h h a A still further object of this invention is to provideafcpntrol box secured adjacent the" crank .case of an engine and having directcommunication therewith. Positioned within the control box isa float with a sleeve slidablej'upon a' shaft positioned within the controlbox and adapted to rise and fall with the level of the oil andm'eans associated with the float for opening and closing a direct communication from the oilpumpt-o the supply tank. h

:Lhese and further objects will beincresiully {is view-thereof beingshown.

illustrated in the-"accompanying.drawings and described in thefollow'ing specification and appended c1aim.. 1 21 vi 1; I Figure 1 is a vertical. sectional view illustrating the invention from the front end, it'being'understood that the supply tank may be vpositioned at any 'convenien'tpart of the automobile; FigureVZ is-a top planview' partially in section taken online 2'-2 0f Figure 1. c Figure.3 is a sectional viewltaken on line 3-3 ofFigure 1.

Figure 4 isa vertical section. illustrating the invention from theside.

Figure 5 is atop planyiew partiallyin section taken on line5+5 of Fi ure/ I W s It is known thatlthe greatesthazard of automobile ownersoccurs when the supply of oil has been exhausted, cau ing thehurn-ingigout of .the main and rod bearingsrin fact seriouslyafiecting all movable v parts of .theengine; oftenoccurs-because the oil pressure gauge'sho'ws oil pressureon the said gauseuntil the oil-is completely ha din e nk as 1 Atthe present time there are, various instrum n fi i 1 es in th level. v0t 1 i the? crank case oi the engine, suchas a meter positionedon he d h beard p l-a ge fiolmp i hayin an'TindP catorarm operated by' the oil pressure frornlthe oilpumpt I Q.

. Another means of testing the duantitylofioil in the crank case is lay-the gaugerod positioned beneaththe hood; of the engine and usually ii] proximity ,to thebreather tube. Inprdertotest the level of oil it is necessary to remove thegauge rod, remove the oil therefrom and again insert it into the crank case and upon withdrawing the gauge rod the level'o'fthe oil jcanlbel determined. so By theuse oi mef re's m invention it is not necessary to make-use of any mechanical means for indicating thesu'pply of qil'in the crank case. Assoon as the oil' has reached the predetermined low level thesupplv will ue-a 't 'or'hatically re plenished from the-supply tank. I r. Referring to the drawings; th I merai't illustrates a partial sectiofial'Vie-W the cr'a'fik case of an automobile engine having an oil intake tube '1 positioned therein anaeonnecteu' with 011 pump trating 'dnly, a: partial A The inlet tube a 1A is connected to tight-at.

m side lof th -oil pmnp and the other end to a line for direct communication with the -supply asksiqpeii ef s ib s movablygequredatseas de-tes is? as case 6 is a control box 9 secured to the crank case through the medium of bolts or the like 19. The bottom portion H of control box 9 is removably secured with a gasket HA through the use of screw threaded bolts l2 and has forming an integral part thereof guide 13 which is provided within portion 29 of bottom II. Guide I3 is adapted to receive vertical shaft M for slidable movement the shaft being controlled by sleeve 15A within float l5.

When attaching control box 9 to the crank case B gasket I6 is positioned between the two members and the corresponding passages l'l cause direct communication between the crank case and the control box for maintaining an exact level of the lubricant in each of themembers.

It is to be understood that float l5 has suflicient space within control box 9 to allow the oil to rise to the same level as in crank case 6; The float I5 is slidable upon shaft I4 and for limiting the movement thereof, there is provided a pair of pins 13 and 19, the pin l8 being positioned at the lowermost part of the shaft for limiting the downward movement of float i5. Pin I9 is positioned at the uppermost portion of the shaft for limiting the upward movement of the float.

Therefore when the level of oil in crank case 6 and control box 9 gradually diminishes the float l5 gradually moves downwardly until it touches pin l8 of shaft I4.

At this point it is desired to indicate that pins l3 and I9 may be adjusted to allow the float to move vertically a longer or shorter distance, depending upon the amount of oil used by the engine, also how often one desires to refill his engines crank case. The control shaft is provided with a series of holes 42 for pins 18 and 19, said pins resetting holes 42 are located at the uppermost portion and at the lowermost portion of said shaft. Therefore setting pins 18 and IS in holes closest to the center of said shaft I4 will thereby shorten the movement of float i5, causing the device to operate when a small quantity of oil has been consumed from the crank case. Whereby placing pins I8 and I9 farther apart on shaft M the quantity of-oil in the crank case will become more nearly exhausted before the device will operate.

It is to be understood that when the float l5 engages pin 18' on its downward movement it will not proceed immediately downwardly with control shaft I4. It is to be noticed in Figure 4 a pressure is secured on shaft 14 by means of a ball and spring which are located in passage 5|. The pressure is maintained on said shaft while the device is not supplying oil to the oil pump to prevent slipping or dropping while float I5 is moving from pin l9 to pin l8. Therefore the float becomes lodged upon pin [9 until the motor has consumed the oil from the topmost part of said float to the lowermost part thereon. This leaves the float above the oil surface and converts it into a deadweight upon shaft M, to be later'described. v

It is necessary to indicate that an air vent hole 41 is provided in upper portion 23A preventing air from forming over oil within control box 9. Cap 48 is filled with'a fine mesh wire which is pressed into the outer end of the vent 'hole to prevent said hole from becoming blocked with dirt. V V

The upper portion 23A ofcontrol box 9 is constructed with passage 2| which extends from the outer edge of the caseto bore 23. Tube 22 is directly connected from the outer end of passage 21 to the intake manifold of an engine. A pocket chamber 21 is formed when the upper portion 23A and top portion 30 are assembled. A flexible diaphragm 24 is provided and is secured between the two said members by the use of the screwthreaded stud bolts or the like 29. The diaphragm is operated when the vacuum in the tube 22 reaches chamber 21. For controlling valve 25, said valve is directly connected with said diaphragm through the medium of a screwthreaded stud bolt 26. The spring retainer 28 over valve 25 of the upper portion 39 is a stop .member for limiting the downward movement of valve 25.

' A cover 'is'provided for the upper portion 23A and is bolted or otherwise secured thereto through the use of screws 29. The cover is generallyindicated by the numeral 39 and it is to be noted that bore 3| projects through the central portion thereof for guiding and supporting valve 25, said valve having an opening 32 adapted to align with the transverse openings '33 in cover 39 when said valve is operated. The upper portion of valve 2f: hasa spring '34for returning said valve to its topmost position when the vacuum is broken. A dust cover'35 and gasket-35A are provided and are secured to cover 39 by any suitable means such as screws or the like 35.

Upper portion 23A has also a pressure control assembly for vacuum control shaft l4 and to be noted in Figure 4 a spring retainer .28 is secured to valve 25 by means of a screvvthreaded stud bolt 28A. The spring retainer has an arm extending horizontally through cover with allowable space for vertical motion therein. Connected to one end of 28 is a pressure control shaft which is secured thereto by'means of stop washer 54 and a screwthreaded nut'53. Bore44is provided and is adapted to receive said shaft 43 for vertical slidable movement therein, when valve i 25 is drawn down by the vacuum in chamber 21. The pressure control shaft 43 has groove 46- andis constructed with an angle-at the lowermo'st'part of said groove. Groove 46in shaft 43'is'adapted to receive plunger 45 located in passage -5l, the said plunger being constructed with one ball end for sliding on the'inclined surface within groove 46 for releasing pressure of spring 49 and ball 59 on control shaft l4,-'while the device is in'operation supplying oil to the oil pump. The said shaft l4 remains free from pressure by spring 49 until the crank case is refilled and the vacuum is broken in chamber 21, this action permitting spring 34 on valve 25 to force back in topmost position the valve 25 and pressure control shaft 43. At the same time the plunger is forced to the left due to its ball-end sliding over the lower inclined surface of groove 46 in shaft 43. It is to be noted a screwthreaded plug 52 is provided at theouter endof passage 5|.

It is necessary to indicate that no false action occurs to' diaphragm 24 by vacuum tube 22, while shaft i4 is in its topmost position,or while said shaft passes beyond passage2l. Spring 34 on valve 25 has the strength to require full suction of vacuum tube 22 through passage 21 to operate diaphragm 24. 7

Referring again to oil pipe line it is to be noted that theinlet tube 1A is coupled to the upper portion 3! of crank 'case 6A and to feed pipe '38 which in turn is coupled to cover- 39; Feed pipe 38 and tube '!A of the oil intake are indirect communication with the transverse opening 33 of'cover'30. There is also provided a tube- 39 coupled to cover 39. Tube 39 is in direct communication with the supply tank 40, said supply tank being positioned at any convenient part of the automobile. A partial sectional view of the supply tank 49 is illustrated in Figure 1 and has cap 4] for replenishing the supply of oil within the tank. Tube 39 is coupled to the tank and projects therein as illustrated.

In the operation of the device When the oil within crank case 6 diminishes the oil in control box 9 will likewise diminish causing the float to lower gradually until it engages pin l8. At this point float l becomes lodged upon pin l8 and both float l5 and shaft I4 remain at a steadfast position until the motor has consumed a sufficient amount of oil so as to leave float l5 above the oil level in both crank case 6 and control box 9. The float at this point becomes additional weight upon pin 18 through the core I5A within float l5. After this action occurs said float and shaft have the controlling weight over the pressure spring 49 at passage 5| and the said shaft and float will move by the degrees downwardly within bore 23 and guide l3 as the oil diminishes until the upper end of control shaft l4 passes beyond the opening of the recess 21. A vacuum is then created through the vacuum tube 22 forcing diaphragm 24 and the valve 25 carried thereby downwardly until the spring retainer 28 over valve 25 abuts the top surface. of upper portion 30.

At this point passage 32 is in direct communication with the transverse opening 33 and the oil pump will draw fresh oil from supply tank 40 through feed pipes 39 and 38 into oil intake tube '!A then to oil pump 8.

While the supply of oil in crank case 6 is being replenished the float rises likewise on shaft I4 and will abut pin I9 raising control shaft l4. Thus closing the vacuum in passage 2| and thereby returning diaphragm 24, valve and shaft 43 to its topmost position through the aid of coil spring 34.

It is to be understood that this device will operate only while the motor is running since a vacuum is created by connections with the intake manifold to operate the movable parts.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new is:

In an automatic crank case oil filler for supplying oil to an engine pump, the same comprising a control unit secured to said crank case, the top portion of said control unit removably secured to the bottom portion thereof for forming a chamber therein, a valve vertically positioned within a bore of said top portion, apipe line directly connected to a supply tank and to an oil pump by the use of a transversely extending passage positioned within the aforesaid top portion, a diaphragm positioned intermediate the control unit and the top portion thereof, the said valve being adjacent said diaphragm within said chamber, the control unit having a bore and a passage for a vacuum line to control said diaphragm and valve, and means to open and close the aforesaid transversely extending passage.

ALFRED 0. JAMES. 

